Calendars, Clocks, and Electricity

On this page...

Calendars, clocks, and electricity

Some of the most obvious cultural differences between Italy and
other countries include public holidays, school schedules, and hours
of operation for stores and banks. This page documents the differences,
and because we couldn't figure out where else to put it, also
describes French electrical service!

Public holidays

On national public holidays most businesses, schools, and banks
close and people will have the day off in Italy. They may even close
in the afternoon of the day before. When a holiday falls on a
Tuesday or a Thursday, many Italians will fare il ponte (make
the bridge) by taking off the day between the holiday and the
weekend. If a holiday is coming, be sure to get enough cash while
the banks are open. Some service stations will also close, so if
driving is in your holiday plans, especially in the countryside, a
full tank of gas is recommended.

Here are the major public holidays and the dates on which they occur:

English name

Italian name

2015 date

2016 date

New Year's

Capodanno

January 1

January 1

Epiphany

Epifania

January 6

January 6

National Day

Giorno nazionale

March 17

March 17

Easter

Pasqua

April 5

March 27

Easter Monday

Lunedě dell'Angelo

April 6

March 28

Anniversary of Liberation

Anniversario della Liberazione

April 25

April 25

May Day

Festa del Lavoro

May 1

May 1

Republic Day

Festa della Repubblica

June 2

June 2

Assumption

Ferragosto and Assunzione

August 15

August 15

All Saints Day

Tutti i santi

November 1

November 1

Immaculate Conception

Immacolata Concezione

December 8

December 8

Christmas Day

Natale

December 25

December 25

St Stephen's Day

Santo Stefano

December 26

December 26

School schedules

The Italian school year begins in September and ends in June. The
academic year is divided into either two or three terms, depending
on the region: September-January and January-June, or September-January,
January-March, and March-June. The school calendar is determined
each year at a regional level. Schools are closed during Christmas
and Easter breaks, as well as for local and national holidays.
Tourist destinations are more crowded at these times. You can search
for the current school calendar here.

Timezones

All of Italy keeps the same time. During the winter months this is one hour later than Universal Time (UT, formerly Greenwich Mean Time or GMT). Italy also observes daylight saving time. It begins on the last Sunday in March and ends on the last Sunday in October. Daylight saving time in Italy is two hours later than Universal Time. Here are some times around the world, relative to Rome time:

Rome

Noon

London

11h

New York

06h

Chicago

05h

Denver

04h

Los Angeles

03h

Hong Kong

18h

Tokyo

19h

Sydney

20h

Hours for stores and banks

Banks in Rome are typically open Monday through Friday from 08h30
to 13h30 and from 14h30 to 16h00, although afternoon hours may vary.
ATM machines will be available 24 hours a day.

Shops and stores are generally open Monday through Friday from 09h00
or 09h30 to 13h00 and from 16h00 or 17h00 to about 20h00. Saturdays
they are usually open from 10h00 to 20h00. In the center of Rome
quite a few shops stay open as late as 22h00 on weekdays and 20h00
on Sundays.

Rome supermarkets are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10h00 to
20h00. Mondays they commonly open at 13h00. Central Rome stores
will often have longer hours, sometimes including Sundays.

Electricity

Italy has 220-volt 50-hertz electrical service. Before you leave,
check whether your electric shavers, travel irons, hair dryers, or
other personal appliances will operate at the higher voltage. If
not, you must buy new appliances or bring a voltage converter, also
called a transformer. Dual-voltage hair dryers are quite easy to
find, and electric shavers are often dual-voltage, so you may not
need a transformer.

Remember that outlet prongs are shaped differently. Italy uses
European-style plugs, having two round pins and requiring the use
of mechanical plug adapters for most foreign appliances. These are
inexpensive and available from many sources, including hardware
stores. Keep in mind, however, that plug adapters are not electrical
converters; they merely adapt the plug so it can be connected.

Finally, since current alternates at 50 cycles, not 60 as in the
U.S. and some other countries, expect your dual-voltage hair dryer,
for example, to run a little slower.

Easy Booking

Conciergerie.com makes online booking easy: A few simple steps and you're done! No registration, no passwords, no unnecessary forms. Once your order is processed we'll send a confirmation email with details, including online access to vouchers for shows and tours. »View all